Free prints from your smartphone — no kidding!

The FreePrints app is really easy to use and allows you to crop and rotate images to fit the desired print size.

The app also makes it easy to add onto your order by purchasing larger prints.

No, this isn't a joke: You can get free prints from your smartphone. But, no surprise here, there are some restrictions and you have to pay for shipping. My first thought when I heard about paying for shipping was those late night commercials where the product is really inexpensive but the S&H was exorbitant. It's not that bad with the new FreePrints app, though. Shipping costs start at $1.99 and max out at $9.99.

Here's the deal. You load the free app for iOS 5.0+, Android 2.3.3+ and Windows 8 onto your smartphone. Select images from the device's camera roll/library, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr or Picasa and place your order. Free prints are limited to 85 individual 4x6 inch prints per month (no dupes of the same image), with a maximum annual of 1,000 prints. While you're ordering, the app provides other options for different products — larger prints, different substrates and therein lies the motivation behind the free product.

Fulfillment is handled by PhotoAffections, which offers even more products on their site, including wedding announcements, so it's not — as far as we can tell — some fly-by-night operation.

We did a little math and, assuming the maximum shipping cost of $9.99 for 85, 4x6 prints, it comes out to almost 12-cents a print. Not bad, considering a quick look at some other online ordering sites charge between 15-24 cents/print (with lower prices for quantity prices). But there are always sales for digital prints, so the cost-benefit will vary.

Of course, the whole idea is to get you to buy larger, more expensive prints but, even so, what do you expect when you get something for free? Not much, so we have to wonder whether it's even worth the minimum $1.99 postage to find out, although I must admit that the bargain hunter in me is really tempted.

Comments

Only for 4x6 prints. From time to time, you will see sale for 4x6 prints. I believe Target is offering 50 4x6 prints for free with a coupon right now. And consider that you are printing from Smartphone, most people won't notice the quality.

It is very misleading for saying they are free. It is no different from saying a car is FREE only you have to pay $x for y months. The price is factored into shipping.